Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., announced Friday that he will not run for retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin’s seat.

“After careful and thorough deliberation and long talks with my family, friends and supporters, I have determined that the best way for me to continue to have a direct impact for my constituents and the nation is to remain in the House of Representatives,” Rogers wrote in an emailed statement to his supporters.

Rogers’ decision means former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is the only GOP candidate in the race, although GOP Rep. Justin Amash has also said he is considering a bid for the seat.

Local and national operatives long suspected that Rogers, a favorite of the national Republicans, would pass on the Senate race. They speculated he would not want to risk losing his his gavel on the House Intelligence Committee for a tough statewide race.

Meanwhile, Michigan Democrats have coalesced around Rep. Gary Peters as their candidate for Senate. Peters had an early lead in an EPIC-MRA poll conducted last month.